Skilled to Work: Medical assistance program at NEMCC

Sydney Darden spoke with students at NEMCC about the college's medical assistance program.

Everyone.

I'm emily leonard.

We count on doctors to keep us informed about our health at our routine appointments.

On this week's skilled to work, we go to north east mississippi community college's medical assistance program to meet the people that make our doctor visits as efficient and informative as possible.

Proficient in these skills."

Sot vickie hopkins, program director- "it just opens up so many doors of opportunity."

As medical assistants in training, program director vickie hopkins says becoming certified is one of the best ways to enter the world of health care.

Sot- "according to the labor of bureau statistics, medical assisting is one of the fastest growing industries in the medical field from now until 2023."

From simple procedures like taking blood pressure and ear irigation to more complex things new born care and conducting a full body physical, medical assistants learn everything it takes to make your next doctor's appointment a more enjoyable experience.

Sot- "you have so many different skills that are required to pass the program.'

The 11 month program also takes you behind the desk to learn the administarative side of the healthcare system.

But whether you choose to focus on patients or paperwork, students say the learning excperience is unlike any other.

Sot- shamya souter, student- "it's very different than being in a normal college classroom.

It is very different pace and it is way more hands on."

Millie keen, student- "we do a lot of computer skills, a lot of clinic skills".

And those skills translete well after graduation.

The program has one of the school's highest job placement percentages.

With salaries staring around $14 an hour.

Sot vickie hopkins, program director- "doctor's offices are looking for these types of employees because of the versatility they are always able to fil in in different areas and be proficient in these skills."

This is a selective program that only accepts 12 students each year.

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